Window regulator



JUY 49 1933 s. W. NICHOLSON 1,915,865

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed not. 5I 1931* ATTORNEY CII Patented July 4, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFlFlt'IE STANLEY W. NCI-IOLSON, OF MLWAUKEE, WSCONSIN, ASSIGNGR TO BRIGGS @c STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MLNJVAUKEE, WSCONSN, il. CORPORATION OF DELA- 'WARE WINDOW' REGULATOR Application filed Getober 5, 1931. Serial No. 566,973.

lt is an object of the present invention to construct a new and improved window regu-v lator and more particularly a window regulator adapted for use where the casing into which the window slides is tortuous.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator for the rear side window of a sedan or the like and particularly for that window in the panel directly in bach of the rear door of the sedan.

ln window regulators previously used in the rear side window of sedans, the bulging of the body out over the rear wheel has interfered with the raising or the lowering of the window to its full extent due to the inability to get a suitable connector in position.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide a window regulator for the above mentioned window which will raise or lower the window to substantially the entire height of the pane.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a window regulator in which the operatinghandle is below the level of the arm rest and indented into the 'upholstery so thaty it does not contact the passenger to cause him discomfort.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a flexible drive for the window having reinforcing members attached thereto which render it sufficiently stilf to raise and lower the window.

Further objects are to simplify the structure of window regulators to provide a more simple and reliable regulator and to generally improve the structure of window regulaters in positions where there is not ordinarily suflicient room to accommodate a regulator.

A structure embodying the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully described, the invention residing in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a jtransverse sectional view through the body of an automobile showing the detail of the improved regulator;

Figure 2 is a view taken on the line 2--9 of Fig. 1 and showing a plan view of the regulator;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 8 3 of Fig. 2; and

Figure al is a view of the rear seat of a sedan showing the relative position of the window and the operating handle of the regulator.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views7 10 represents the side of an automobile which is composed of spaced plates 11 and 12 pressed to the proper form, the outer plate 11 being curved inwardly at 14 and terminating in a shoulder 14 under which a fender 15 of the rear wheel 1li of the automobile is fastened. The inner plate 12 likewise curves inwardly and follows in general the configuration of the outer plate 11 but does not have a shoulder corresponding to the shoulder 14. on the outer plate. This causes the space between the plates 11 and 12 to be greater above the shoulder than below it.

ln order to provide greater riding comfort, the inner wall may be provided with an arm rest 18 attached thereto and padded with suitable material. The sides below the arm 18 are padded as shown in lglig. 4lat 2O and a recess left in the padding at 21 to accommodate the handle 22 of the regulator comprising the subject matter of the present invention.

The regulator is mounted on the inner wall 12 of the car on a plate or base 25 which may be held spaced from the wall 12 by spacing washers 27 and held to the wall by a plurality of screws 28 which pass through the washers and screw into threads in the plate 25. lf desir-ed other means may be utilized to fasten the base of the regulator in spaced relation to the wall 12, the means of effecting thc fastening forming no part of the present invention.

A substantially channel shaped member 31 is mounted on the plate through screws 32 or other suitable fastening means together with appropriate spacers. The lower end of the channel 31 below the lower limit of the window 83 is curved inwardly and downi Wardly as shown at 34 in a reverse or so called S3 curve to avoid contact With the shoulder 14 in the outer Wall 11. The channel shaped member is provided With inturned portions 36 and 37 extending throughout the length of the curved portion as best seen in Fig. 2. The portions 36 and 37 form retainers for a flexible rack bar 40 of approximately the same Width as the inside of the channel and ruiming therein. The inturned portions hold the flexible rack bar Within the channel and serve to guide it around the shoulder 14.

The rack bar is composed of a plurality of laminations or separate rack bars 41, 42 and 43 super-imposed upon each other to give the necessary flexibility to enable the rack bar to readily round the reverse curve 34 vinV the channel member and still give suflicient rstifness to drive the pane 33. The laminations 41, 42 and 43 are made of resilient material so that they readily straighten out after having been bent in going around the curve 34. 'Vhile three laminations have been shown, it will be understood that the number used is governed by the requirements that the bars be flexible enough to round the curve 34 and yet be stiff enough to raise the Window. y

A bracket- 46 is fixedly connected to the rack bar 40 by means of rivets 47 which pass through all of the bars 41, 42 and 43 of the rack bar 40v to cause the upper ends of the three bars 41, 42 and 43. to act as a unit, and to have a minimum radius of gyration approximately equal to that of a solid bar of like dimensions.

The bracket 46 has a channel 48 fixed thereto by any suitable means. rlhe channel 48 mounts the pane 33 therein by means of a rubber or other resilient holding means 49 which prevents vibration and noise in the body.

The inturned portion 36 extends throughout the length of the channel 31 to form a guide for the toothed edge of the rack bar 40 and insure its engagement with the operating pinion, as Well as guiding the rack bar around the curved portion 34. The inturned portion 37 does not need to extend above the pinion, as the Window structure cooperates ivith the channel 31 and the inturned ortion 36 in holding the rack bar in the cliannel. The inturned portion 37 is, therefore, only provided on the curved portion to hold the rack 4bar in the channel While rounding the curved portion 34.

The channel member 31 has an enlarged portion 52 above the level of the curve 34 to accommodate an operating gear or pinion 53 which is in constant mesh with the rack bar 40. A combined cover and guard 55 for the gear extends over the teeth of the rack bar 40 so as to enclose the teeth of both the bar 40 and the gear 53 and has indented portions 56 which contact the bottom of the channel 31 and are riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the bottom of the channel to secure the cover 55 to the structure.

The pinion 55 engages all the rack bars 41, 42 and 43 simultaneously so as to exert equal stress therein. Since the upper ends of the rack bars are fastened together, it will be apparent that the engaging of the racks by the gear 55 cooperates With the fastening at the tcp to give the effect of a solid bar of the combined thickness of the racks 41, 42 and 43, and that the radius of gyration Will be approximately that of a solid bar.

The gear 53 is operated through the handle 22 through a connecting shaft (not shown). The 'shaft passes through a housing 58 mounted on the rear of the enlarged portion 52 of the channel 31, and has the gear 53 keyed to the shaft at one end thereof, the opposite end of the shaft passing through a mounting bushing 59 in the Wall 12 of the machine and terminating in the handle 22.

The housing 58 encloses a. spring brake generally designated 61 Which is adapted to releaser upon the pinion 53 being turned through the handle 22, but to prevent movement of the Window by applying pressure to the pane.

The details of the brake 61 are more particularly set forth in the patent to Stephen F. Briggs, United States Patent No. 1,804,457, issued May 12, 1931.

If it is desired'. a counterbalancing mechanism may also be used to counteract the Weight of the window and render the raising easier.

It will be noted particularly that the handle is placed below the arm rest of the machine and at a depth below the general surface of the upholstery Where it "does not contact with the body of a passenger as would be the case if it were placed above the arm rest.

It Will also be noted that the Window regulator forms a rigid connection which lifts the Window parallel to itself whereby all binding and sticking usually instant to the raising of suoli Windows is eliminated.

It is realized that the invention is susceptible to various changes and modifications coming Well Within the scope of one skilled in the art and it is not, therefore, desired to limit the invention to the precise embodiment herein shown and described, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device to raise and lower a Window, a channel member having a portion thereof curved and having an inturned edge on one leg thereof extending substantially throughout the length of said channel, an inturned edge on the opposite leg of said channel extending throughout the curved portion thereof, a flexible and resilient rack bar approxiinately the Width of said channel and operat- CYD ing therein and having its minimum radius of gyration in a direction radially of said curves, means connecting the upper portion of said rack bar to a window pane whereby movement of the rack bar causes corresponding movement of the pane, and a pinion engageablc with said rack bar to effect movement thereof.

2. In a device to raise and lower a window, a channel member having a portion thereof curved, an inturned edge on one leg of said channel extending substantially throughout the length thereof, an inturned edge on the opposite leg of said channel extending throughout the curved portion, a flexible rack bar within said channel and being held therein by said inturned edges, means connecting the upper portion of said rack bar to a window pane whereby movement of the rack bar causes corresponding movement of the pane, and a pinion engageable with said rack bar to effect movement thereof.

3. In a device to raise and lower windows, a channel member having a portion thereof curved and an inturned edge on one leg thereof extending substantially throughout the length of said channel, an inturned edge on the opposite leg of the channel extending throughout the curved portion thereof, a plurality of relatively thin and exible rack bars joined together at the upper ends thereof operating in said channel and being held therein by said inturned edges, means connecting the upper ends of said rack bars with the widow pane whereby movement of the rack bars causes a corresponding movement of the pane, and a pinion engaging said rack bars above said curved portion whereby rotation of the pinion causes movement of said rack bars.

4. In combination with an automobile body having a pair of curved walls forming a side of the automobile, a window regulator comprising a base between said walls and supported from one of the walls, a channel member having a straight portion and a curved portion, a flexible lifting member mounted in said channel member, means retaining said flexible member within said channel member, a window pane supported by said flexible member, and means to move said flexible member in said channel member whereby movement of the 'flexible member causes corresponding movement of the window pane.

5. In combination with an automobile body having a pair of curved walls forming part of a side of the automobile and having a window pane movable into and out of the space between said curved walls, a window regulater to actuate said window pane comprising a channel member supported from one of said walls and having a straight portion and a curved portion to permit its disposition in the space between the curved walls, a flexible rack slidable in the channel member, means to retain said flexible rack in said channel member, means to connect the flexible rack with the window pane to be actuated, a pinion meshing with the flexible rack, and operating means having a part exteriorly of one of the walls to drive said pinion and eiect actuation of the flexible rack and window pane.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

STANLEY W. NICHOLSON. 

